Chapter 148: The Snipe And The Clam Fight
After guessing the riddles, Guo Xin was very pleased and clapped her hands, saying, “You all have to drink with me.”
Xiao Yi saw from afar that the door of the Southern Tower’s Osmanthus Moon Pavilion was pushed open, revealing a corner of Li Zhaoning’s red skirt and the embroidered shoes beneath it.
Guo Xin heard the movement and turned her head to look over there.
Just then, Wang Chengxun shouted.
“Su Dexiang?”
“Brother Wang?”
Xiao Yi’s gaze fell, and he saw Li Zhaoning’s skirt hem quickly retract, and the carved wooden door closed.
To tell the truth, he was not afraid of Guo Xin and Li Zhaoning meeting, but if they could avoid it, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking to the west of the corridor, Su Dexiang walked while looking around, then quickly hurried to Wang Chengxun and bowed.
“It really is Brother Wang.”
“You are also feasting here tonight, which pavilion?”
“There are no private rooms, only seats by the window on the second floor. Brother Wang, could you help me get a private chamber?”
Wang Chengxun smiled and shook his head, saying, “I’ll take you to see Military Head Zhang for a drink.”
“This… honestly, Brother Wang, I’m looking for a lost friend.”
“It won’t take long, just a drink.”
Xiao Yi listened and understood that Wang Chengxun, while seemingly helping Su Dexiang, was actually building connections.
Everyone turned back to the private chamber.
He saw Guo Xin still looking in the direction of the Osmanthus Moon Pavilion and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It seemed like there was a beauty just now.”
“Mm?”
“I just like looking at beautiful women.”
“I understand.”
“What do you understand?”
“Women appreciate beautiful women more.”
“What about men?”
“Men are mostly lustful…”
“Why aren’t you saying more?” Guo Xin kicked the threshold and muttered, “Tch, as if I don’t understand, I’m not a child.”
Entering the private chamber, the ladies went behind the screen to sit at a table.
Zhang Yongde, Wang Chengxun, Su Dexiang, and a few others met up, and it became a boring gathering again.
Xiao Yi buried his head in eating until Su Dexiang leaned close and whispered, “Do you know where Li Xiao Niang Zi is?”
“No.”
“She’s in this building, didn’t you see her?”
“No.”
Xiao Yi spouted nonsense without any burden when dealing with people who were so persistent.
Su Dexiang couldn’t get any information and gave up sulkily. He and Wang Chengxun didn’t leave, but Guo Xin insisted on staying behind the screen and not coming out.
After a while, Guo Siniang said, “There are many people tonight, shall we play ‘Fu She’?”
“Good idea.”
Everyone agreed, and Zhang Yongde said, “Please, Madam, pose the riddle.”
However, they could vaguely see Guo Siniang behind the screen placing an object on a tray, covering it with red silk, and ordering a maid to bring it out.
“Please, young masters, guess.”
“Are there any hints?”
Guo Siniang whispered, “Round like the moon’s soul fallen, light as clouds’ essence floating. It holds the taste of spring water, and can dispel worldly sorrow.”
Zhang Yongde thought for a moment and smiled, “It’s a tea cup.”
Xiao Yi then understood how Fu She was played; it was guessing the covered object.
After a while, Guo Xin also chose an object and covered it with red silk.
The maid brought out the tray. The red silk did not rise noticeably, making it impossible to tell what was underneath.
Wang Chengxun frowned for a long time and asked, “Are there any hints?”
“A round moon falling in the center, light as fish scales floating. It holds worldly flavors, and can dispel worldly sorrow.”
“This… there are only these objects here, what else could it be?”
After murmuring to himself, Wang Chengxun stood up, bowed, and asked, “May I ask Wu Niang, is it a teacup?”
“No.”
Xiao Yi didn’t think he could guess it and continued to eat, but he noticed he had eaten one of the dishes with Guo Xin before.
Li Chongjin said, “I understand, it must be a wine cup.”
“No,” Guo Xin said, “Xiao Yi, what do you think?”
“Is it a pouch?”
“Pfft.”
The maid lifted the red silk, and indeed, it was a Nirvana Pouch placed in a cup.
Li Chongjin slapped his head and said, “This is so difficult, who could guess it?”
After that, Ma Shi also placed an item.
While Li Chongjin was guessing earnestly, a maid brought out a pot of wine and placed it in front of Xiao Yi, whispering, “Wu Niang asks the young master to drink this osmanthus brew, it’s not intoxicating.”
“Thank you.”
Xiao Yi poured himself a cup. The red candle reflected the spring wine in the cup, which rippled slightly. He drank it, and it was surprisingly warm.
A line of poetry by Li Shangyin came to his mind.
Then, he felt the gazes of Wang Chengxun and Su Dexiang upon him, as if they wanted to pin him to Fan Lou.
“Oh my!” Li Chongjin suddenly said, “It’s already the second quarter of the hour, I have to send Wu Niang back.”
“I’m not going back, sister, can I stay overnight tonight?”
“No, if you want to come out again next time, go back early tonight…”
Xiao Yi thought to himself, just as he expected.
Everything tonight went according to Guo Xin’s wishes, and no trouble arose. Tomorrow, he could bring Zhang Wan out of the palace.
Except for Li Chongjin, no one cared what object Ma Shi had them guess. Everyone stood up, left the private chamber, and went downstairs.
“Sister, can I stroll along Imperial Street for a while longer?”
“Yes, yes, as you wish.”
Walking to the second floor, between the east and south buildings, Xiao Yi deliberately lagged behind to avoid being seen by Li Zhaoning from above.
Ahead, Guo Xin turned around, raised the paper umbrella in her hand, and waved at him.
Behind the curtain at the corner, a figure approached.
Almost simultaneously, Xiao Yi heard someone calling his name.
“Xiao Yi, let’s go stroll along Imperial Street for a while longer.”
“Xiao Lang, have you finished your official business? Are you going to Zhou Bridge?”
What a coincidence in this world.
Xiao Yi’s gaze swept over them. Guo Xin was wearing the white cotton attire, and Li Zhaoning was wearing the red cotton attire.
He also noticed that everyone was looking at him.
Clearly, nothing had happened, yet the scene was inexplicably awkward.
After an unknown amount of time, perhaps only an instant, perhaps a long time, no one spoke, as if the onlookers in the main hall had stopped their clamor.
In the distance, some people were whispering and talking, and some were peeking out from private chambers.
Finally, Zhang Yongde spoke first.
“A’yi, is this lady your friend?”
“Yes, she is the daughter of Li Gong. She has been of great help to me, and we share a bond forged through shared hardships.”
Li Zhaoning stepped forward, walked to Xiao Yi’s side, and bowed gracefully, “Greetings to both Military Heads.”
“You are polite, worthy of being called the daughter of a noble family.”
Su Dexiang quickly stepped forward, bowed politely, and said, “Li Xiao Niang Zi, I have booked a seat.”
Li Zhaoning did not reply.
Xiao Yi followed her gaze, which landed on the umbrella in Guo Xin’s hand.
Guo Xin turned back and said, “Li Jia Niang Zi is so beautiful.”
Su Dexiang quickly made the introduction, “This is Guo Wu Xiao Niang Zi.”
“This humble one greets Wu Niang Zi.”
Li Zhaoning bowed gracefully and very decorously.
The originally awkward atmosphere seemed to lessen.
But then, Wang Chengxun suddenly spoke.
“The two ladies are truly fated, even the material of their clothes is the same.”
Li Chongjin said, “It seems Xiao Lang was right, this cotton cloth is a thank-you gift, and both families have it.”
These two, speaking one after another, finally annoyed Guo Xin, who glared at him.
Li Zhaoning also lowered her head, unable to hide her disappointment.
Su Dexiang immediately became anxious and said, “Li Xiao Niang Zi, let’s go. Xiao Yi is not a good person. He lied to you about having official business, didn’t he? He was clearly just now… just now ‘dividing into groups and guessing the candle’s red light’ with someone else. Why should you be mistaken for such a fickle person?!”
These were the truth. Su Dexiang dared to speak them without fear of offending anyone, which was rare.
Xiao Yi immediately felt that everyone’s gaze towards him became complicated.
The passersby who were whispering around began to point and talk about Li Zhaoning and Guo Xin.
He frowned, turned around, and pretending to be furious, shouted at the crowd, “What are you looking at? I haven’t done anything yet!”
The crowd dispersed. From a private chamber upstairs, someone pushed open the window and cursed, but did not show themselves.
“Pah, you dog man.”
At this point, Xiao Yi actually felt relaxed. The onlookers’ cold glances and schadenfreude were all based on a misunderstanding.
In reality, Guo Xin and Li Zhaoning were pursuing him. He had already subtly indicated his refusal. Because they no longer pressed him for a commitment, one said she wanted to be loyal, and the other tried to tame him, he continued to interact with them.
Of course, it was also because they were beautiful and cute, and he couldn’t help himself at times. But in any case, he was the one being pursued.
Without ulterior motives, he was naturally calm and composed, as if Mount Tai were collapsing before his eyes and he remained unfazed.
Wang Chengxun and Su Dexiang wouldn’t understand this, nor could it be explained clearly. They only thought he was despicable and had messed up.
The next moment, Guo Xin spoke.
“Sister Li is so beautiful. I’ve heard so much about you, and today I finally get to see you. Will you stroll along Imperial Street with me?”
“This humble one has also long heard of Guo Niang Zi’s deeds and admires you greatly. Meeting at the Lantern Festival, I am greatly honored.”
“Then let’s go.”
Guo Xin took Li Zhaoning’s hand and walked away, pointing at Xiao Yi and saying displeasedly, “Don’t follow us.”
Wang Chengxun and Su Dexiang were about to follow.
“You two don’t follow either.”
“Yes.”
Soon, two graceful figures, one red and one white, disappeared at the stairs.
Su Dexiang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
“Xiao Yi, if Guo Niang Zi treats her badly, what will happen?”
“She won’t.”
Xiao Yi understood Guo Xin’s character and knew that Guo Xin’s reaction just now was to protect Li Zhaoning.
Su Dexiang looked like he wanted to pounce on him and strangle him. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, “You let her suffer such injustice, yet she still has to force a smile in front of everyone. You’re truly not a man!”
“Want to fight?”
“Hmph!”
Su Dexiang flicked his sleeves and left.
Wang Chengxun smiled, bowed, and said, “Xiao Lang, rivals in love are like battlefields, there’s no reason to yield. Please forgive me.”
“It’s alright.”
Xiao Yi returned the bow and watched Wang Chengxun leave.
His left shoulder was suddenly patted. He caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye and looked directly to the right. Indeed, it was An Yuanzhen.
She seemed slightly tipsy, her cheeks flushed, making her even more charming.
“Everyone is looking at you. Shall we go back to the private chamber for a bit?”
“Okay.”
Xiao Yi knew that Guo Xin would definitely send someone to escort Li Zhaoning back later, ensuring they both returned home safely.
Walking up the stairs, An Yuanzhen said, “Compared to these two men, I now understand why they both like you.”
“Why?”
“One is a thief, coveting Guo Wu Niang’s power and status, but pretending to be deeply affectionate; the other is a robber, insisting that You Niang love him, forcing the woman’s will, but pretending to be refined… truly disgusting.”
“Am I not a good person either?”
“You are a bad person. In others’ eyes, Guo Wu Niang’s most important attribute is precisely what you least desire. You idiot, you’re too proud. Your interaction with her means you’re lusting after her. Li Youniang is also proud; the more you don’t let her have it, the more she wants it. You’re afraid of hurting her and want to get away, but you lust after her.”
Xiao Yi realized that An Yuanzhen wasn’t stupid, but rather she spent all her energy on these useless things.
Seeing her staggering, he supported her and pushed open the door.
Her soft body leaned against his arm.
An Yuanzhen said, “I haven’t finished speaking, you know? They like you the most, feeling like they might lose you at any moment, yet they can always sense a hint of your heartache, and can’t help but wonder what you’re really thinking.”
Xiao Yi scoffed, “What do you know?”
“Because… I am also like that.”
As Xiao Yi helped her to sit on the low couch, he heard her words and his movements paused slightly.
“Like what?”
“Saying you like me, but then leaving me at Tai Ping Palace. I… would also try to guess…”
An Yuanzhen seemed quite aggrieved. She lifted her foot and lightly stepped on his boots. Her embroidered shoes were small, with pearls sewn on the cloud-like toe, and her silk socks slightly curved.
She had originally intended to express her displeasure, but after Xiao Yi stared at her for a while, her movements became a bit more drunken, yet her demeanor retained five parts dignity and two parts charm.
“You greedy cat, give me a foot massage.”
Xiao Yi gazed into her eyes, trying to see if she had any ulterior motives.
An Yuanzhen was already fair-skinned, and being stared at by him made her blush even more, like peach blossoms blooming on osmanthus cake.
In their gaze, she first lowered her eyes to avoid him, then propped herself up, bit her lip, and softly chided him with a drunken remark.
“You’re afraid to even massage my feet? I don’t want you to marry me.”
By the end of her sentence, the last word was barely audible.
Xiao Yi slowly leaned forward a little. An Yuanzhen closed her eyes and moved closer.
First, he tasted a hint of wine.
Then, Xiao Yi seemed to taste the sweetness of Peach Blossom Cake…
